16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:16-17, ESV)
The preceding verse describes and encounter our Savior Jesus Christ had with the self righteous Jews. In this text, our Lord makes it clear the kind of people who are the beneficiaries of his marvelous grace. He did not come for the full but the thirsty and hungry. He said come and buy without money because I have made myself the price for your sins.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (Isaiah 61:1, ESV)
God has always rejected the proud and given grace to the humble. The pharasaic behavior Is always like we read from the passage above. It's always self-righteous and never in need of any spiritual help. They have had their on way of purchasing their salvation from the Lord and that was through their obedience to the law. They had not heard or perhaps believed in the new covenant that says that salvation Is by grace alone in Christ alone. So here, their idea of the coming Messiah Is that he is coming for those who are already righteous.
They thought that he was coming for those who have worked hard to obtain their own redemption by their works. But here Jesus comes and he says no. "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners". And this Is consoling to every soul that has a right view of its vileness. If salvation was based on what I have done then I would be condemned to hell. But everyone has hope. Both the Jews and Greeks. Who are this grace for? Its for you and I; it's for everyone who confesses that he or she is sinner.
Without a clear view of sin, no man will be a candidate for this great salvation. He came for the sick. I am sick and I need him."I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" saids He. And I am a candidate. I have no righteousness of mine. I cling to the cross and it's there I found my hope. The hope of eternity in Christ alone. It's where a sinner like me finds grace and forgiveness.
That is why everyone is welcome into the church. It's for sinners and at the same time for saints. Everyone who's in the church has been washed in the blood of Christ and are now saints. But this sainthood is not by our doing. Its by the righteousness received from Jesus. So if you are in the church and are not a saint, then repent and be washed in the blood of the One who came for your sickness and sin, if not your name will not be found in the book of life and the wrath of God will fall on you though you associated yourself with the saints.
